News

By Ian Birch

The BBC'​s flagship documentary programme, Panorama, is to broadcast a series of tabloid-style benefits stings this week as part of what it claims is an expose of "​£​22bn"​ of benefits fraud and error each year in the UK.

Aired on Thursday at 8pm on BBC One, except Scotland -- where it will be shown on Sunday evening, Richard Bilton'​s investigation is publicised as exposing benefits claimants sailing yachts and driving Bentleys.

This kind of tabloid journalism is common in the UK press, but such a high-profile Panorama Special at prime time is likely to further stigmatise the 99.5% (DWP statistic) of sickness benefits claimants who are genuine -- almost all people who claim benefits -- and cause further hostility from the media and public towards those of us who rely on benefits for some or all of our income.

The programme will be available on the BBC iPlayer for 7 days afterwards and you can make a formal complaint to the BBC Duty Office at https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints after you have seen it.